The burial transit permit is used for notifying
the Bureau of Vital Statistics that a death has occurred. The
Bureau uses the permit as a tracking device to make sure that
a death record is filed for each death that occurs in Alaska.
A burial transit permit is also used to help assure that the death
was from natural causes and that there is no condition that would
require notifying the state medical examiner.

When is Burial Transit Permit needed?

Alaska regulations require a Burial
Transit Permit for any of the following conditions:

The final disposition (burial/cremation) of the body or fetus;

moving the body within Alaska;

shipping the body out of Alaska provided that all requirements
as to
embalming and casket or other container have been fulfilled;

storing or holding the body for a period beyond 72 hours after
death;

transportation by common carrier;

holding a public funeral.

A burial transit permit issued in Alaska or a burial
transit permit issued in another
state or Canada and accompanying a dead body or fetus shipped
into Alaska
authorizes any of the above conditions.

A Burial Transit Permit is not required:

To transport a body to the state medical examiner or the state
medical examiner's designee.

For fetal deaths of less than twenty (20) weeks gestation.

When a burial transit permit has been issued in another state
or Canada and is accompanying a dead body or fetus shipped into Alaska.

When does the Medical Examiner's Office need to be notified?

The Office of the State Medical Examiner is responsible
for conducting the medical/legal investigative work related to unanticipated, sudden
or violent deaths. Alaska law requires the medical examiner to investigate the circumstances
and determine the cause and manner of death of all deaths:

That occur suddenly or unexpectedly when a person is in apparent
good
health;

when the decedent is not under the care of a physician;

that are suspicious, unusual or unexplained;

that are the result of violence;

of that are unlawful or due to criminal neglect;

If a question of foul play exists regarding the
death, a burial transit permit may not be issued and the body may not be moved or molested without the
permission of the state medical examiner.

If you can answer yes to any of the above questions,
the medical examiner’s office should be contacted.